Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today strongly objected to the defence ministry's move to close the Srinagar Airport for 20 days for resurfacing of the runway, saying this will deal a severe blow to tourism in the state.
The defence ministry had communicated to the state government that the airport would be shut down for civilian traffic from June 20 onwards for 20 days to enable carrying out resurfacing of the runway.
This prompted the chief minister to rush to Delhi and take up the matter with defence minister AK Antony and civil aviation ministry.
Omar said the decision of the Indian Air Force, which mans the airport in Srinagar, was going to serve a severe blow to the tourism season in the state and rather the defence ministry should consider keeping the airport open while allowing the resurfacing to carry on.
The civil aviation ministry has also sided with the opinion expressed by the state chief minister saying that the work as well as airport operations can go on simultaneously, the sources said.
The defence minister listened to the anxiety of the chief minister and said he would review the decision taken by the IAF, the sources said.
During upgradation of the Srinagar airport in mid-2000, the civilian traffic was diverted to Awantipora air field in South Kashmir, 33 km from Srinagar.
Later, the civil aviation secretary and other ministry officials had a detailed meeting with the chief minister over the issue.
